Handwashing vs. the Dishwasher (Part 2)

                        

       As discussed in the previous post, there are advantages and disadvantages to handwashing dishes and using the dishwasher. In some instances, the dishwasher may be more efficient than handwashing. The converse is true of in other cases. Regardless of the method, efficiently is certainly impacted by how well each task is performed. It may seem like the processes are self-explanatory , and for the most part they are, but there are a few details that might be useful still.

Handwashing:

• Scrap off or rinse food particles prior to adding the dishes to the dishwater to keep the water as clean as possible.
• Maintain water as hot as your hands can handle. Water temperature will begin to significantly cool down after only 10-15 minutes, and water will need to be added to or replaced.
• Follow the following washing order: glasses, silverware, dishware, cookware. This allows the  items with the most germs to be washed first in the hottest water.

Dishwasher:

• Plastics should always be placed securely on the top rack. Trust me, burnt plastic produces quite the stench.
• Use caution when washing fragile glass. Cleaning broken pieces of glass out of the dishwasher would not be ideal for you or the machine.
• Group like items together to increase loading capacity, but be careful to allow adequate space in between them so that they will not nest together. Silverware should similarly be loaded in a manner which would prevent nesting by either varying the contents of each compartment (ie not placing all of one utensil type together) or varying the direction of the utensils (ie some facing up and some down).
• Pots and pans clean best when laying flat or nearly flat. Placing another dish within the space of a pot or pan can occlude the water from properly reaching all surfaces.
• Always run the dishwasher with a full load (but not overloaded!).
• Depending on the machine, it may be helpful to pre-rinse the dishes. If the dishes might sit a bit before a full load is achieved, then pre-rinsing is very helpful in preventing food from hardening onto the surface of the dish which is difficult for the dishwasher to remove. 

Additional Reading:

Home Economics: Vintage Advice and Practical Science for the 21st-Century Household compiled by Jennifer McKnight Trontz  *

**Note: The product listed above contains an affiliate link to Amazon.com. Reviving Homemaking is an affiliate of Amazon.com, and as such receives compensation for each purchase made through the link.  

Linked up at: A Mama's Story, The Alabaster Jar, The Modest Mom Blog, The Better Mom, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife

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Handwashing vs. the Dishwasher (Part 1)

       Does handwashing dishes clean them as well as a dishwasher? Does a dishwasher cost more in terms of repairs and replacement or energy usage? There are a few areas such as cleanliness, cost, time and consistency that must be considered when determining which method of washing dishes is better. 

        Let's begin with cleanliness. According to Real Simple, a water temperature of 140° is necessary to kill bacteria. The hot water from the facet will not reach this temperature, and for a good reason- it would burn your skin. Based on water temperature, the dishwasher is superior at sanitizing dishes. However, bacteria can still be eliminated in the dishwater with the use of antibacterial dishsoap or a small amount of bleach. Each of these has a significant drawback, though. Bleach, for instance, poses significant health and environmental risk.   Antibacterial additives to soap has recently raised concerns as a contributing agent to a growing antibiotic-resistance in the environment. I do not use either of these substances in my dishwater. If a dirty dish has sat on the countertop or in the sink for a while which would promote bacterial growth, then I would use another method. For everyday meals, good ol' soap and water is sufficient to clean dishes in my opinion. 

        A second aspect in the dishwasher versus handwashing debate is the matter of cost. Both methods require some degree of cost. Handwashing dishes involves the expense of water usage multiple times a day. A dishwasher also requires the expense of water usage, as well as electricity usage and the cost of eventually needing to repair or replace the appliance.  With a price tag of about $300-500, the sudden expense of replacement can hit a family budget pretty hard. With regard to electricity use, an energy-efficient dishwasher uses only 1kwh of energy (source: Huffington Post). Lastly, the dishwasher uses less water than handwashing if the dishes have not been pre-washed prior to loading into the dishwasher. I have always thoroughly rinsed my dishes prior to loading them into the dishwasher because as a renter I haven't always been able to rely on the older dishwashers in the units. This practice, however, adds to the cost of using the dishwasher. 

      Convenience and time requirements are also a consideration. Automatic dishwasher have lessened the work and time required by domestic tasks. It would by far take more time and energy to wash every dish by hand after every meal. As wonderful as it is be alleviated of this demand, I also believe there is a great good than can come from not having a task completed for me. Great gains can be found in domestic work! For example, my grandmother once wisely told me that your more resourceful and appreciative of how you use your dishes to cook when you've had to spend time and effort bending over the sink to wash them. I find myself not as mindful and well..spoiled and lazy when it comes to caring for my possessions, including my kitchen dishes. 

      The last consideration is in regard to lifestyle. When I had a residence of my own prior to marriage, I would wash by hand because if not I'd run out of dishes before I could fill the dishwasher. Now, I cook full meals a few times a day and never lack in filling the dishwasher. Yet, I have a bad habit of leaving dishes for a later clean-up. By the time "later" arrives, I'm also needing to cook a meal but have little work space or cooking utensils. Or, someone drops by to visit and I'm too embarrassed of the mess to extend an invitation inside (our home has an open floor plan, so there's no avoiding the kitchen). I've discovered the best means of combating this bad habit of mine is to wash all the dishes after each meal. I tend to have so many dishes and cookware that are not dishwasher safe that I have to wash by hand even if I'm using the dishwasher. So, I decided to just wash everything by hand after each meal, and the kitchen stayed cleaner. (Of course, knives or cutting boards that dealt with meats or eggs were placed in the dishwasher anyways). Even though the dishwasher is more efficient, it's been more beneficial for me to develop better habits the old fashioned way. If you find yourself with piles of dirty dishes all the time, I suggest to begin washing by hand to: 1) develop a better mindfulness of your (over)usage during meal prep and 2) develop a better habit for keeping dishes caught up. In time, you can shift from the sink back to the dishwasher. 

Up Next: Part 2 (How to properly handwash dishes and load the dishwasher)

Linked up at: Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife, Christian Mommy Blogger, A Mama's Story, The Alabaster Jar, The Modest Mom Blog, The Better Mom, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife

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Menu Plan: Spring (June 9-15)

**There is now a photo album on the RH Facebook page just for food photos. If you like to see a photo of a dish to judge whether you want to try it or not, then follow the link to view the album. (I tend to like recipes & cookbooks that include lots of photos). Let's be honest, some dishes are just too pretty to not take a picture! ;) **

     I'm fairly passionate about growing in knowledge and skill in working with real foods. In my experience, once you put down the packages and pick up food in its whole form the disconnect people have from their food is hard to miss. I've found that frequently individuals simply don't know what real food is much less how to work with it. The cashiers at the grocery probably dread seeing us enter their lines each week because they're in for a produce pop quiz. For instance, this week's trip-

Cashier: Is this a zucchini squash?
Us: No, that's a yellow squash
...
Cashier: Are these regular green beans?
Us: No, those are sugar snap peas.

Lastly,
Cashier: Do you care how heavy the bags are?
Me: Yes. For one, I have to lift them. Second, heavy items will bruise softer ones.

Oh my, sometimes it's just too much. ;) 

Strategies

• This week's shopping list is quite short! Our schedule got jumbled a bit last week, and so we didn't stick closely to the menu plan. That's okay because we are starting out this week with three meals that were shopped for last week.

• We didn't have to buy any new meats this week because we already had what we needed stored in the freezer. Buying in larger quantities and then storing frozen is a great way to save money on meat! 

• Some items require some planning ahead. It's easiest to cook time-consuming items prior to the moment of need. For instance, tortillas require about an hour for the dough to form and rest. Dried beans require about an hour soak, and then additional time to cook. These are time requirements that I do not want to face when it is time to cook for a meal occasion. I got up early one morning and got to work making each of these so that they'd be ready to go throughout the week. That's one less item to make at meal times!

• Tip: write your grocery list and the date in a little notebook each week/month. This way you can easily see how much and how frequently you purchase items. You can then use that information to determine the value of purchasing in bulk for your family's needs. If you don't use the entirety of a bulk purchase before it goes bad, then it would have been wiser to buy the smaller quantity even though it would have been at a higher unit price. Below is a copy of our list for this week:

Click image to view larger

OUR MENU PLAN FOR THIS WEEK

*Note: I include links to the recipes if they are available online. Some recipes are from cookbooks we have at home, and while I can't share the recipe I can direct you to the source. Other dishes or meals are created by myself or my husband, and we can do our best to explain how to recreate it. If you'd like additional information on any of the meals or our menu planning, then please feel free to contact me. :) 

Breakfasts

- oatmeal with diced apple, walnuts, and flaxseed meal

- granola cereal, banana

- oatmeal with dried cherries, almonds, and flaxseed meal

- whole wheat toast with peanut butter and drizzle of honey 

- cottage cheese with diced strawberries

(repeat all to keep it simple!)

Lunches

- Garden salad (romaine lettuce, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, carrot, cucumber etc)

- Beef and cheddar sandwiches, zucchini chips

- Bacon, egg & asparagus pizza

- Okra & chickpea tagine 

- Vegetable casserole (I'm normally not a casserole fan, but we're going to give this one a try)

- Maple-carrot couscous salad

Dinners

- Roast beef, seasoned potatoes, broccoli

- Chicken pot pie

- Gingered tilapia with starfruit/mango garnish

- Grilled veggie sandwiches

- repeat chicken pot pie

- repeat vegetable casserole

Snacks

- homemade crackers 

- cottage cheese and diced pineapple

- apple and cheese slices

- almonds

- yogurt with dried apricots

Weekly Menu Planning Sheet

*Note: Reviving Homemaking is not affiliated with any of the sites or companies included in the links, and was not asked to include or recommend them or their recipes in this post. (I simply like what they have to offer!)

What's on your family's menu plan this week?

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May In Our Home

   May  2013

{These posts may be suited more for my own memories or for family who live states away, but perhaps others may find them interesting as well. :) }

  The most notable happening in our home during May has been the absolute enjoyment of springtime weather. It's still so strange to still have temperatures in the 70s, but I'm not complaining. I'm a happy camper spending time outside in the sunshine!

     We outfitted our back porch with furniture and a grill. It is fabulous out there! We're now shopping around for a good deal on some outdoor games like bocce. An evening of grilling and games is fun family time to me! We also added some lovely plants for the porch. We have a cute little mint plant, stevia plant, and container of mixed flowers. I love plants, especially flowers!    

      

     Each weekend seemed to end up being spent driving in the countryside or taking walks along nearby trails. I always enjoy going for walks together. We would walk together in a park when we were dating, and I'm so glad to have continued to have this time together. Plus, springtime is absolutely beautiful!

(Top right is a millipede)

     And what's a walk without a pause for silly face pictures. I really enjoy getting to let loose and be silly together. Marriage needs goofiness!

 
          Aside from enjoying the warmer weather and being outside more, David has added another cheese to his repertoire- feta! He's now made us homemade mozzarella and feta. It's fun to learn and expand the foods that we can make homemade! He's also been learning how to play guitar recently. I really admire his interest and efforts in learning new information or skills.

         As for me, the preschool school year concluded this month, and I'm going to miss getting to spend time with the little two year-olds. The experience has been such a blessing. I debated volunteering out of fear that it would only exasperate the ache of childlessness. There were days that I honestly didn't think I could do it. Those mornings I wiped my tears, touched up my makeup, and pushed myself to walk in anyways. Amazingly, each time I was greeted by their excited little faces my sorrow was replaced by joy. I realize that the attention and influence ought to be on them, but yet they've had the most beautiful impact on me. I'm thrilled to have been asked to work with them even more the next school year!

     
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Menu Plan: Spring (June 2-8)

**There is now a photo album on the RH Facebook page just for food photos. If you like to see a photo of a dish to judge whether you want to try it or not, then follow the link to view the album. (I tend to like recipes & cookbooks that include lots of photos). Let's be honest, some dishes are just too pretty to not take a picture! ;) **

Strategies

• Some items require some planning ahead. It's easiest to cook time-consuming items prior to the moment of need. For instance, tortillas require about an hour for the dough to form and rest. Dried beans require about an hour soak, and then additional time to cook. These are time requirements that I do not want to face when it is time to cook for a meal occasion. I got up early one morning and got to work making each of these so that they'd be ready to go throughout the week. That's one less item to make at meal times!

• Tip: write your grocery list and the date in a little notebook each week/month. This way you can easily see how much and how frequently you purchase items. You can then use that information to determine the value of purchasing in bulk for your family's needs. If you don't use the entirety of a bulk purchase before it goes bad, then it would have been wiser to buy the smaller quantity even though it would have been at a higher unit price. Below is a copy of our list for this week:

Click image to view larger

OUR MENU PLAN FOR THIS WEEK:

*Note: I include links to the recipes if they are available online. Some recipes are from cookbooks we have at home, and while I can't share the recipe I can direct you to the source. Other dishes or meals are created by myself or my husband, and we can do our best to explain how to recreate it. If you'd like additional information on any of the meals or our menu planning, then please feel free to contact me. :) 

Breakfasts

- oatmeal with diced apple, walnuts, and flaxseed meal

- granola cereal, banana

- oatmeal with dried cherries, almonds, and flaxseed meal

- whole wheat toast with peanut butter and drizzle of honey 

(repeat all to keep it simple!)

Lunches

- Caesar salad with homemade croutons and dressing

- Broccoli & feta pasta (using homemade feta cheese) 

- repeat broccoli & feta pasta

- Creamy avocado & white bean wraps (using homemade tortillas)

- Bacon, egg & asparagus pizza

- Sauteed shrimp with ginger cream, broccoli

- Okra & chickpea tagine 

Dinners

- Mustard greens & bulgur (added homemade feta)

- Grilled chicken, asparagus and macaroni & cheese

- Mediterranean chicken stew

- [gathering with friends] Hamburgers & hotdogs on the grill provided & everyone else bringing a side 

- BBQ portobello quesadillas, black beans or mango salsa 

- Grilled pork steaks, corn & spiced apples

- leftovers

Snacks

- homemade crackers with peanut butter

- cottage cheese and diced pineapple

- apple and cheese slices

- almonds

- yogurt with dried apricots

- homemade granola or other bar

Weekly Menu Planning Sheet

*Note: Reviving Homemaking is not affiliated with any of the sites or companies included in the links, and was not asked to include or recommend them or their recipes in this post. (I simply like what they have to offer!)

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(Your name (first name + last initial) and comment may be used in the upcoming Reviving Homemaking ebook. If you wish for your name to not be included, then please simply use "anonymous" or "guest." Thank you for your input!)

Product Review: Lilla Rose Flexi Hair Clip

Image Source

     I am quick to confess that I have little talent when it comes to styling my hair. I essentially alternate between four basic "do's," which after a while can get rather boring.  Dawn, a Lilla Rose Consultant, has generously given me a Flexi Hair Clip to try. The clip allows me to continue to work with the basic half-up style, while also adding a little more color and interest than a basic clip. In fact, Lilla Rose has come to be known as "hair jewerly." A quick browse of the catalog and the wide variety of products available gives meaning to that label. There are so many options!

     I selected a clip that would be very versatile. The Freestyle Princess Tiara features a tones of gold and silver, as well as neutral yet colorful gems. In the future, it may be fun to try out some of the other clips that are more color or theme specific. Another great feature of the clip is that it's flexibility allows you to hold a little or a lot of hair. This allows the clip to be suitable for individuals with fine hair (like myself) or thicker hair. It also allows the clip to be worn in several different ways. I chose a small clip that is nice for wearing my hair half-up. When my hair is longer, a larger clip would be great for pulling all my hair up without resorting to a simple hair tie all the time. 

      The only negatives I experienced from this product were the ease of use and expense. In order for the clip to be adjustable the back of the clip isn't fixed like regular clip. It has taken a little coordination work to get the clip in, but once I got used to the motion it became easier. The second negative was expense. The clip I have was about $13, which ordinarily would be out of my budget for a hair product. However, this may not be a drawback for you as your budget perimeters may be different than mine. With this said,  these clips are of a superior quality and style than the pack available at the store. If you're looking for a cute new hair clip, then this would definitely be worthwhile. 

         All in all, I've enjoyed the Flexi Hair Clip by Lilla Rose. The positives have certainly outweighed the negatives! I would easily recommend this product for ladies looking for a fun way to style your hair! To view the Lilla Rose catalog and place an order for one of their great products, visit Dawn's website. You can also get to her site by following the button at the top right of this page during the month of June. If you're on Facebook, then visit her page to see many more products and fun ways to use them! 

     Thank you again, Dawn for kindly giving me a clip to use and review! It was a pleasure working with you!

If you are interested in advertising with Reviving Homemaking or requesting more information, then contact me through email: revivinghomemakingblog {at} yahoo {dot} com

Note: The Lilla Rose Princess Tiara Freestyle Flexi Hair Clip was given to me free of charge for review in exchange for my review to be published on Reviving Homemaking. Reviving Homemaking is not an affiliate of the company, Lilla Rose, or consultant, Dawn B. As such, Reviving Homemaking does not receive any compensation in any form beyond a free product (Flexi Hair Clip). The opinions shared are entirely my own and have not been influenced or solicited in any particular direction in any manner. 

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